Today, October 15, 2014, is National Mushroom Day. A mushroom (or toadstool) is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. Mushrooms are used extensively in cooking, in many cuisines (notably Chinese, Korean, European, and Japanese). Mushrooms are known as the "meat" of the vegetable world. Most mushrooms sold in supermarkets have been commercially grown on mushroom farms. A number of species of mushrooms are poisonous; although some resemble certain edible species, consuming them could be fatal.
